MK Tom's Rail Photos 2023

[MK Tom]

My January 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/January-2023/UK-Rail-January-2023

This includes:
Saturday 7 January - A quick ride on the Birmingham Airport people mover (soon to be replaced with a new one to the HS2 Interchange) for my trip to Belfast.
Saturday 14 January - The GBRf Class 56 Farewell Tour passing through Bow Brickhill in the hands of nos. 56098 and 56081.
Saturday 21 January - A trip to South Woodham Ferrers to visit Hyde Hall Garderns, also visiting Stratford, Wickford, and Billericay.
Saturday 28 January - A day in Dover, taking SouthEastern from Victoria via stops in Canterbury and Faversham.
Tuesday 31 January - A short journey from Bicester to Oxford and return.

I also made two overseas trips in January. The first was to southern France, which overlapped with 2022 and is linked in my 2022 photos thread.

The second was to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway Diesel Gala, photos from which are here:

Iarnrod Eireann 001 Class no. A39 taking part in the Downpatrick & County Down Railway diesel gala, 07.01.2023.

Saturday 7 January - A visit to the Downpatrick & County Down Railway diesel gala, including bus and train photos from Belfast city centre. Photos and video from my Flybe flight from Birmingham to Belfast are in the Aviation Janaury 2023 gallery.

mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com

 

[MK Tom]

My February 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/February-2022/UK-Rail-February-2023

This includes:
Saturday 4 February - A trip to Elstree & Borehamwood, going via Watford and St. Albans.
Thursday 9 February - A day trip to Newcastle, visiting NELSAM and Cramlington, and returning via Lumo to Stevenage.
Tuesday 14 February - A day in Birmingham, riding the tram extension to Edgbaston. Also includes a c2c Class 720 on test.
Wednesday 22 February - GBRf nos. 47727 and 92020 passing through Woburn Sands.
Friday 24 February - Rail Adventure Class 43 HST power cars nos. 43484 and 43465 passing Wolverton en route to collect Tyne & Wear Metro unit no. 555003.
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February - A journey from Swindon to Bristol and return, visiting the Bristol Harbour Railway and Chippenham.

Some short video of the Tyne & Wear Metro from the Newcastle trip is here:

 

[MK Tom]

My March 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/March-2023/UK-Rail-March-2023/

This includes:
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March - A trip to Brighton and Eastbourne, going out from London St. Pancras and back to Victoria, also visiting Lewes.
Tuesday 21 March - Trains passing Sandy on the ECML, plus a walk along a section of the Varsity Line.
Wednesday 22 March - Photos from Canary Wharf, Euston, and Milton Keynes Central.
Sunday 26 March - The Great Central Railway's Mountsorrel Railcar services, travelling from Leicester North via the rarely-used connection onto the Mountsorrel Branch at Swithland using Derby Lightweight DMU "Iris" and a Class 101 set.
Tuesday 28 March - Various LNER and Lumo trains at London Kings Cross, plus other London area trains.

Some video of the GCR Mountsorrel shuttles is here:

 

[MK Tom]

My April 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/April-2023/UK-Rail-April-2023

This includes:
Saturday 1 April - The two disused railways (LNWR and GCR) in Brackley, Northants.
Tuesday 4 April - The return of first-generation DMUs to the main line, and the restoration of direct Wareham-Swanage services. Also includes visits to Eastleigh and Bournemouth.
Thursday 6 April - A Greater Anglia Class 720 delivery run with nos. 56098 and 50007, seen on the Marston Vale line.
Saturday 8 April - Photos from Blackfriars, Woolwich Arsenal and London City Airport on my way to fly out to Switzerland and Serbia.
Saturday 15 April - Class 40 no. 40013 at Southall, seen from an Elizabeth Line train from Heathrow.
Monday 17 April - A short journey from Bristol Parkway into Temple Meads and back.
Monday 24 April - The journey back from London Luton Airport after my Portugal trip, my first ride on the Luton DART.
Saturday 29 April - The Greater Anglia Class 321 Farewell Tour, running from London Liverpool Street to Clacton, Walton, Harwich, Ipswich and Southend.

Some video of the Swanage DMU services to Wareham is here:

I also had two overseas trips in April 2023. The first was to Switzerland, Serbia and Austria.

Photos here: Overseas April 2023: Switzerland, Serbia & Austria

The second was to Portugal, including a visit to the National Railway Museum at Entroncamento.

Photos here: Overseas April 2023: Portugal

 

[MK Tom]

My May 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/May-2023/UK-Rail-May-2023/

This includes:
Saturday 6 May - Two Class 47s at Milton Keynes on a coronation troop special, plus some East West Rail progress at Bletchley.
Saturday 13 May - A visit to the Cardiff area and the Brecon Mountain Railway, including my first Class 231 and 398 photos.
Saturday 20 May - Visits to Finningley and Sheffield on the way to and from a driver experience day at the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum (photos in the bus gallery).
Sunday 28 May - A few photos taken from my plane window arriving into Luton from Prague (see Overseas gallery).
Monday 29 May - Withdrawn Marston Vale Class 230 trains at Bletchley depot.

A short video of 47802 departing Milton Keynes on the troop special is here:

Some video of my ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway is here:

I also visited the Czech Republic in May, spending time in Prague, Brno, and Plzen. I visited the tram and trolleybus systems in all three cities (the Prague one being newly-opened), as well as Prague's model railway museum.

Photos here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/May-2023/Overseas-May-2023/

Some video of the trams in Brno and Plzen is here:

 

[MK Tom]

My June 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/June-2023/UK-Rail-June-2023/

This includes:

Saturday 10 June - Flying Scotsman bringing a charter through Bletchley.
Sunday 18 June - A trip from Princes Risborough to High Wycombe with a stop at Saunderton, followed by a journey along the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.

Some video of 37227 in action at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway during this trip is here:

On 20 June I flew to the USA for a three-week trip, visiting Arizona, Philadelphia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.
Photos of the USA trip are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/July-2023/Overseas-June-July-2023-USA

 

[MK Tom]

My July 2023 UK rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/July-2023/UK-Rail-July-2023

This includes:

Tuesday 11 July - A single photo from Watford Junction, on the return from Heathrow following my USA trip.
Friday 14 July - London Underground (and Overground) trains around Harrow and Ruislip.
Saturday 22 July - A trip to the Bluebell Railway, by rail via central London.
Sunday 23 July - A few station photos from Slough and Windsor during the Beaconsfield bus running day (see bus gallery) followed by an East West Rail progress check-up at Claydon and Winslow.
Monday 24 July - The new order for the Marston Vale Line arriving at Bletchley in the form of Class 150s nos. 150137, 150139, and 150141.
Sunday 30 July - A ride on the Vintage Trains Shakespeare Express from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Birmingham and return.

Some video of the Shakespeare Express is here:

 

[MK Tom]

My August 2023 UK rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/August-2023/UK-Rail-August-2023

This includes:

Tuesday 1 August - A c2c Class 720 passing Milton Keynes, along with a few other trains.
Sunday 5 August - A combined visit to the Churnet Valley Railway and the Rudyard Lake Railway (both operating on the same historic line), also including brief visits to the Foxfield Railway and Stafford station.
Sunday 13 August - A visit to the West Somerset Railway and the Lynton-Lynmouth Cliff Railway, including a very unusual double-headed 11-coach train at the WSR.
Sunday 20 August - Two photos of the Piccadilly Line at Heathrow during my return from Madrid (see Overseas August 2023 gallery).
Monday 21 August - A journey from West Byfleet to Hampton Court via Surbiton, including a range of South Western Railway classes.
Tuesday 22 August - A few photos from the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
Wednesday 23 August - The new order on the West Coast Main Line: Avanti no. 805002 passes Milton Keynes.
Wednesday 30 August - Four RailAdventure HST power cars bringing three Merseyrail Class 777s through Wolverton on a delivery run.

Some video of the S160 running at the Churnet Valley Railway is here:

I spent a few days in Madrid in the middle of the month, photos from which are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/August-2023/Overseas-August-2023

 

[MK Tom]

My September 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/September-2023/UK-Rail-September-2023

This includes:

Tuesday 12 September - A quick run from Blechley to Leighton Buzzard to experience the LNWR Class 319s one more time before they're replaced with 730s.
Thursday 14 September - A few photos from Redditch.
Wednesday 20 September - A visit to the 15" gauge Bure Valley Railway, including stops to see disused lines in Chatteris and Swaffham, and at the Mid Norfolk Railway at Dereham.
Saturday 23 September - A walk along the disused formation from Aylsham to Reepham, including a visit to and ride on the Whitwell & Reepham station museum line.
Sunday 24 September - The journey home from Aylsham, visiting North Walsham, Cromer, the North Norfolk Railway, County School, and the Mid Norfolk Railway.
Wednesday 27 September - Driver training underway on the Marston Vale Line, with no. 150137 seen at Woburn Sands.
Friday 29 September - Class 323 no. 323211 "Four Oaks" arriving at Redditch.
Saturday 30 September - One of Grand Central's newly acquired Class 221 Voyagers, no. 221143, at Peterborough, plus photos from the Nene Valley Railway and Guyhirn Viaduct.

Some video of the Class 319s in their last weeks in service is here:

Some video of my ride on the Bure Valley Railway is here:

I spent five days in the south of France at the start of September. Photos are here: Overseas September 2023: France

And also four days in Northern Ireland in the middle of the month. Photos here: Overseas September 2023: Northern Ireland

 

[MK Tom]

My October 2023 rail photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/October-2023/UK-Rail-October-2023/

This includes:

Sunday 1 October - An RHTT working and "Pride" liveried Pendolino no. 390119 at London Euston.
Wednesday 18 October - A single photo from Birmingham International station.
Sunday 22 October - A Chiltern Clubman departing Bicester Village and views of East West Rail around the connection with the HS2 depot at Claydon.
Sunday 29 October - A journey from Chorleywood into London and back on the Metropolitan, Jubilee, and Bakerloo lines.

I also spent six days in New England, visiting the Seashore Trolley Museum and riding the CT Rail / Amtrak Hartford Line, the MBTA Franklin line, and the Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela services. Photos are here: https://mkttransportphoto.smugmug.com/2023/October-2023/Overseas-October-2023/i-xCPPkN8

 

[MK Tom]

My November 2023 rail photos are here: https://mktom.smugmug.com/2023/November-2013/UK-Rail-November-2023

This includes:

Friday 3 November - An East West Rail tracklaying train at Claydon Junction, plus trains at Parson Street (Bristol) including a GWR HST.
Saturday 4 November - The disused Portishead branch, including Portbury station.
Thursday 9 November - Local services at Hemel Hempstead, including a solo 319 on a Tring shuttle.
Sunday 12 November - Trains at London Kings Cross and Euston stations.
Tuesday 14 November - The second day of Class 730 operation with LNWR, featuring nos. 730006 and 730011 on Tring shuttles.
Monday 20 November - The first day of resumed services on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford after an eleven-month gap.
Wednesday 22 November - Two nighttime photos from North Weald station on the Epping Ongar Railway.
Friday 24 November - A trip to Manchester and Huddersfield see and ride the Transpennine "Nova 3" trains before they depart, followed by a run to Warrington and back for my first Class 197 journey.

Some video of GWR trains at Parson Street is here.
Some video of the first day of revived Marston Vale services is here.
Some video of the Transpennine Mark V sets in operation is here.

 

[MK Tom]

My December 2023 rail photos are here: https://mktom.smugmug.com/2023/December-2023/UK-Rail-December-2023

This includes:

Monday 11 December - My first photos of an LNWR 5-car Class 730 on test, seen passing Wolverton, along with Avanti on the slow lines and some stored stock in the works.
Saturday 16 December - A trip to Liverpool to see the disappearing Class 507 and 508 units, the new Class 777 sets, the new station at Headbolt Lane, and the Class 230 operation on the Wrexham-Bidston line.
Sunday 24 December - Trains and railways around Watford.
Saturday 30 December - A trip on the Severn Valley Railway between Kidderminster and Bewdley, followed by my first Class 196 ride, between Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove.

Some video of the 507s and 777s on Merseyrail is here.
A short video of Class 46 no. 182 departing Bewdley is here.